rymanell

I felt the same way at 54. I was a med-surg nurse for 3 years and decided to look at other nursing jobs. I learned a lot as I applied and interviewed. There are so many different opportunities and so many schedules available for nurses. I ended up at the same hospital in case management and I love it! The other job that I came close to accepting was public health. That would obviously be challenging in these times, but I think I would have liked that too. I really like working a normal 8-4:30 m-f and no weekends or holidays. It is also nice working with patients without physically taking care of them. I hope you find something you enjoy and feel safe doing!

I was a med-surg nurse for about 3 years with a BSN and a prior degree in business which wasn't really relevant to getting this job. The hospital system I work for is hiring mostly RN's for case management right now and we are referred to as RN Care Managers. I know they do require a BSN for RNs.

I am a case manager at the hospital where I worked in Ortho/Medsurg for 3 years. I love it! I work with the same doctors and many of the same nurses, help patients and families, work 8-4:30 M-F and no hands on care. I enjoy going to work every day. The bulk of the work is discharge planning. We set up home health, rehab to SNFs, help people apply for medicaid if they need long term care and help the hospital by efficiently getting all of this in place by working on it as soon as a patient arrives on the unit by doing an initial assessment. I could go on, but this is just a quick summary.

Have you considered case management? I went from bedside to case management and love it. I am still helping patients and using my critical thinking skills and nursing without hands on care. My job is Mon-Fri 8 - 4:30. It can be very stressful, but not physically exhausting or taxing to the body. Just an idea...

I did Western Governors and loved it! It took me 10 months to complete.

I left bedside nursing after 2.5 years for a case manager position at the same hospital. I love it!! Just another idea. Good luck!

I went back to school for nursing at 45 after working in banking/finance and staying home with my kids for a few years. I basically had to start over with classes since my business degree did not include much science. It was the best decision I ever made. I decided to get an associates degree at a community college so I could work as an RN sooner and have my employer pay for my BSN which I did. I worked on a very busy joint replacement unit at a great hospital for 2 years and now I am an RN case manager at the same hospital. I absolutely love going to work every day! I never said that about banking. I say go for it!!

I worked on a joint replacement unit with some medical patients mixed in too. I did like it until the nurse patient ratios became unsafe, often 6 patients. I also worked 12 hour shifts, mandatory on call, and every 3rd weekend. I really wanted a more normal work schedule and am finding this much healthier for me. I think I probably do all of those things equally. It is really a great mix. I am finding the facilities and service providers, such as IV abx and O2, are really helpful and know how to help me get the correct orders from the doctors. The doctors really appreciate what we do, as length of stay is very important to their jobs. I love being with patients, which is why I went into nursing and I am finding that I have more time to spend with them in this role when I want to. Every morning around 10am we have interdisciplinary rounds where all the disciplines discuss each patient and their needs. I enjoy this and I feel like I add a lot to their care. I love that I can go to lunch and actually enjoy it. I also leave right at 4:30 every day. I hope this helps!

I have been working as a hospital CM for about 6 months now. My background is finance/banking, then nursing school and med surg nursing for 2 years. I love the CM job. My caseload is around 11 or 12 patients and it is mostly discharge planning.

I work for a large Catholic hospital in the Bon Secours/Mercy Health system. I do not do UR. We have a separate department for that. I was a bedside nurse on a joint replacement unit and have been a CM for about 6 months now. I love it! I don't really have a least favorite part. I love the collaboration with the doctor with the whole team to put together a safe discharge plan for the patients. I also love the patient interaction. I feel like I can really advocate and make a difference for patients and families. It can be very stressful, especially on a Friday when doctors put in discharge orders late in the afternoon and a patient needs O2 delivered to their home, home health set up, ambulance transportation set up, and IV antibiotics at an infusion center, and a PICC line placed. This was a case yesterday and I just had to let one initial assessment wait until Monday. I don't like leaving anything undone, but I'm learning that it is sometimes impossible to do it all and it's really important to prioritize.

I work on a unit with 28 beds and typically have a caseload of 11 or 12 patients.

I say go for it! I am 51 and will be entering my 3rd semester of an ADN program in the fall. I have a finance degree but that did not require any science, so I pretty much started over taking pre-requisites. I am enjoying nursing school and it is very hard, but rewarding. I just took a job as a PCT at the hospital I am hoping to work at as an RN next year. Good Luck!!

Hi Drp27910. I recently found out I am in JTCC hybrid for fall 2015. Can you tell me how you are liking it? Is there any way to prepare over the summer before I begin? Thanks!

Just curious, did anyone apply to Bon Secours or know anyone who did? I did not get accepted there, but happy to be going to JTCC.

Thanks Nvizibl2! Congrats to you too!